Endoscope adapter including light emitting diode, and adapter type endoscope

ABSTRACT

An endoscope adapter including a light emitting diode includes: a detachable portion to be attached to an adapter attaching portion provided on a distal end portion of an insertion portion, the insertion portion including inside thereof at least one image-forming optical system; an adapter main body including an adapter side observation optical system whose optical axis is coincident with an optical axis of the image-forming optical system; a contact pin which enables power supply to the light emitting diode to be turned on when the detachable portion is attached to the adapter attaching portion; and a resistor arranged in a space formed in the endoscope adapter to determine a type of the endoscope adapter.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation under 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) of priorapplication Ser. No. 12/358,493, filed Jan. 23, 2009, by KazuhiroKANZAKI, et al., entitled ENDOSCOPE ADAPTER INCLUDING LIGHT EMITTINGDIODE, AND ADAPTER TYPE ENDOSCOPE, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an endoscope adapter including a lightemitting diode, and to an adapter type endoscope configured byconnecting the endoscope adapter.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, endoscope apparatuses have been widely used in medicalfields and industrial fields. The observation object of the endoscope isthe inside of a living body, a pipe, and the like. Therefore, when anendoscopic examination is performed, a light source for illuminating theobservation object is needed. In a common endoscope apparatus, a lightsource apparatus which supplies illumination light is prepared as anexternal apparatus of the endoscope. The illumination light emitted bythe light source apparatus is supplied to a light guide provided in aninsertion portion of the endoscope, and is transmitted to the distal endportion of the insertion portion via the light guide. Then, theillumination light is emitted towards the observation object from anillumination window arranged at the insertion portion distal endportion.

In recent years, there is proposed an endoscope which, instead oftransmitting the illumination light emitted by the light sourceapparatus to the distal end portion of the insertion portion via thelight guide, is configured to have a light emitting device such as alight emitting diode (hereinafter abbreviated as LED) provided at thedistal end portion of the insertion portion, and to illuminate theobservation object with the light emitted by the light emitting device.In the case where the endoscope having the light emitting deviceprovided at the distal end portion, is configured such that an image ofthe observation object illuminated by the light emitting device ispicked up by an image pickup device, an electrical cable extended fromthe image pickup device, and an electrical cable for supplying electricpower to the light emitting device are inserted in the insertionportion. This makes it possible to realize an endoscope having a smalldiameter and a simple configuration, and having a high performance.

However, for an endoscope apparatus, a plurality of types of adaptersare prepared and there is a case where the number of LEDs to be providedis different depending on the types of the adapters. The plurality oftypes of adapters are selectively and exchangeably attachable to aninsertion portion. In such an endoscope apparatus, required amount ofelectric power is different depending on the number of LEDs to beprovided to each of the adapters. Therefore, if appropriate amount ofelectric power can not be supplied to the LEDs depending on the adapterto be attached, appropriate amount of light required for illuminationmight not be obtained.

In order to eliminate the defect, Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenPublication No. 2006-333945, for example, discloses an endoscopeapparatus capable of easily obtaining appropriate amount of illuminationlight depending on a type of adapter to be attached, with a simpleconfiguration. In the endoscope apparatus, when an adapter is attachedto an insertion portion, for example, a power supply portion and anillumination portion are electrically connected and the type of adapteris determined using a resistor provided to the adapter. Based on thedetermination result, the amount of the electric power supplied from thepower supply portion is corrected and the corrected amount of electricpower is supplied to LEDs.

In recent years, the adapters for endoscope apparatus include a directview type and a side view type, and in addition, a plurality of types ofadapters such as a monocular type, a stereo type and the like areprepared according to intended purposes, for the direct view type andthe side view type, respectively. Some endoscope apparatus adapters areprovided with various types of sensors including a temperature sensor.With a reduction in diameter of insertion portions of endoscopes, theseadapters are reduced in size. With the reduction in size of theadapters, a space on an end surface of a connecting portion between theadapter and the insertion portion is reduced. This makes it difficult toarrange electric elements such as a resistor for determining the type ofthe adapter on the end surface on the adapter side.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An endoscope adapter including a light emitting diode according to thepresent invention includes: a detachable portion to be attached to anadapter attaching portion provided on a distal end portion of aninsertion portion, the insertion portion including inside thereof atleast one image-forming optical system; an adapter main body includingan adapter side observation optical system whose optical axis iscoincident with an optical axis of the image-forming optical system; acontact pin which enables power supply to the light emitting diode to beturned on when the detachable portion is attached to the adapterattaching portion; and a resistor arranged in a space formed in theendoscope adapter to determine a type of the endoscope adapter.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill become more clearly understood from the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a figure explaining an adapter type endoscope apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a figure explaining an insertion portion distal end portion ofthe adapter type endoscope, and a side view type distal end adapterwhich can be detachably attached to the insertion portion distal endportion;

FIG. 3 is a plan view when the side view type distal end adapter isviewed from the observation window side;

FIG. 4 is a plan view when the side view type distal end adapter isviewed from the opening side of a detachable ring;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view explaining an adapter side electricalconnection portion;

FIG. 8 is a front view when the adapter side electrical connectionportion is viewed from the side of a second pin member;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a figure explaining a configuration of a flexible substrate,and an opening shape of an adapter side connection portion arrangementhole;

FIG. 11 is a figure explaining a state where a first pin member of theadapter side electrical connection portion fixed to the adapter sideconnection portion arrangement hole is electrically connected to an LEDelectrode by the flexible substrate;

FIG. 12 is a plan view when the side view type distal end adapter in astate where a hood portion is removed, is viewed from the other surfaceside facing the one surface side;

FIG. 13 is a plan view when the insertion portion distal end portion ofthe endoscope insertion portion is viewed from the front side;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view along the line XV-XV in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a figure explaining a relationship between the endoscope sideelectrical connection portion and the endoscope side connection portionarrangement hole;

FIG. 18 is a plan view when the adapter type endoscope in the statewhere the side view type distal end adapter is attached to the insertionportion distal end portion, is viewed from the one surface side of thedistal end adapter;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view along the line XIX-XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view when the adapter type endoscope in thestate where a direct view type distal end adapter is attached to theinsertion portion distal end portion, is viewed from the front side ofthe distal end adapter;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view when the direct view type distal endadapter in the state where the hood portion is removed, is viewed fromthe front side;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view explaining a positional relationship andan electrical connection between a first pin member and an LEDelectrode, when the direct view type distal end adapter in the statewhere the hood portion is removed, is viewed from the side surface side;

FIG. 23 is a sectional view along the line XXIII-XXIII in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a sectional view along the line XXIV-XXIV in FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of a stereo direct view typedistal end adapter;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view along the line XXVI-XXVI in FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a sectional view along the line XXVII-XXVII in FIG. 25;

FIG. 28 is a view showing another arrangement example of a resistor fordetermination;

FIG. 29 is a front view of a stereo direct view type distal end adapterincluding a channel hole;

FIG. 30 is a sectional view along the line XXX-XXX in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view along the line XXXI-XXXI in FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a rear view of the stereo direct view type distal end adapterincluding a channel hole; and

FIG. 33 is a perspective view explaining a distal end adapter having aresistor for determination arranged on a substrate on which a pluralityof LEDs are arranged.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, embodiments according to the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an adapter type endoscope apparatus 1 is configuredby including an endoscope main body portion 2, a long endoscopeinsertion portion (hereinafter abbreviated as insertion portion) 3provided, for example, with a bending portion 3 b, and a distal endadapter 10 as an endoscope adapter. An adapter type endoscope isconfigured by attaching the distal end adapter 10 to a distal endportion 3 a (as will be described below) of the insertion portion 3.

The endoscope main body portion 2 is formed in a substantially boxshape, and a control portion 4, and the like, is provided inside theendoscope main body portion 2. A monitor 5 for displaying an endoscopicimage, and the like, is provided, for example, on the front surface sideof the top surface portion of the endoscope main body portion 2.Further, an operation panel 6 for performing the bending operation ofthe bending portion 3 b provided in the insertion portion 3, and thelike, are provided on the front surface of the endoscope main bodyportion 2.

The insertion portion 3 is configured by providing successively from thedistal end side, the insertion portion distal end portion (hereinafterabbreviated as distal end portion) 3 a, the bending portion 3 b, and aflexible tube portion 3 c. The insertion portion 3 is configured suchthat the proximal end portion thereof is electrically and mechanicallyconnected to the endoscope main body portion 2 via a connecting portion(not shown). The distal end portion 3 a has in the inside thereof animage-forming optical system as will be described below.

The distal end adapter 10 is configured so as to be detachably attachedto the distal end portion 3 a. In the present embodiment, the distal endadapter 10 is a side view type configured to observe a directionperpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction of the insertionportion 3, that is, a so-called side view direction, and includes a sideview optical system (as will be described below) as an adapter sideobservation optical system.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the distal end adapter 10 is mainlyconfigured by including a detachable ring 12, a hood portion 13, and anadapter main body 11 which will be described below and is shown in FIG.5. The hood portion 13 is a substantially cylindrical exterior memberwhose distal end portion is formed as a curved surface. An illuminationhole 15 and an optical portion hole 17 are formed on the side of oneside surface 13 a of the hood portion 13. A plurality of light emittingdevices, such as for example, LED chips (hereinafter abbreviated asLEDs) 14 faces the illumination hole 15. An observation window 16 a,which configures a side view optical system 16, is arranged in theoptical portion hole 17.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 17, the distal endportion 3 a of the insertion portion 3 is mainly configured by anexterior portion 31 and a distal end portion main body 32. The exteriorportion 31 has an adapter attaching portion on a distal end side of anouter peripheral surface thereof. The adapter attaching portion includesa first male screw portion 33 a which is projectingly provided, andincludes at a proximal end side thereof a second male screw portion 33 bwhich is projectingly provided. The first male screw portion 33 a isformed narrower than the second male screw portion 33 b. A slidingportion 33 c is formed between the first male screw portion 33 a and thesecond male screw portion 33 b.

A rotation stopping portion 34 and contact surface portions 41 a of apair of terminal members 41, and the like, are projectingly provided ona distal end surface 32 a of the distal end portion main body 32. Thepair of terminal members 41 configure a conductive portion of anendoscope side electrical connection portion (hereinafter abbreviated asendoscope side connection portion) 40. The rotation stopping portion 34is configured as a projecting portion having a substantially D-shapedcross section. That is, the rotation stopping portion 34 is providedwith plane portions which face each other and configure side surfaces,and with curved surface portions which connect the plane portions toeach other. The rotation stopping portion 34 serves as a positioningmechanism for positioning the distal end adapter 10 attached to thedistal end portion 3 a, and also serves as a protection mechanism forprotecting the contact surface portion 41 a of the terminal member 41.Note that reference character 35 a denotes a distal end lens cover whichis provided for protecting an image-forming optical system 35.

In the following, the configurations of the distal end adapter 10 andthe distal end portion 3 a will be specifically described, respectively.

First, the distal end adapter 10 will be described with reference toFIGS. 4 to 12.

As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end adapter 10 is configuredsymmetrically with respect to the vertical axis Va as the center line inthe figure. As shown in FIG. 5, the distal end adapter 10 is configuredby including the adapter main body 11, the detachable ring 12, the hoodportion 13, an LED holding plate 18, a flexible substrate 19, an adapterside electrical connection portion (hereinafter abbreviated as adapterside connection portion) 20, and the like.

The adapter main body 11 is an apparatus main body, which has acylindrical shape formed of, for example, a metal member as a rigidmember and is provided with a projecting portion 11 a at the distal endside of the cylindrical shape. The projecting portion 11 a is configuredby forming one end of the adapter main body 11 in a shape of a pair ofprojections as will be described below and as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12.As shown in FIG. 5, in the adapter main body 11, there are formed asupporting portion 11 b, an optical hole 11 c, a positioning hole 11 d,and an adapter side connection portion arrangement hole (hereinafterabbreviated first connection portion hole) 11 e, in addition to theprojecting portion 11 a.

A prism 16 b which configures the side view optical system 16 isprovided on the supporting portion 11 b. A first optical lens 16 c, asecond optical lens 16 d, a space ring, a diaphragm, and the like, arearranged in the optical hole 11 c. The opening shape of the positioninghole 11 d has the same approximate D shape as the external shape of therotation stopping portion 34, and the rotation stopping portion 34 isinserted into the positioning hole 11 d. An abutting pin arrangementrecessed portion 11 f is provided on the side of the first connectionportion hole 11 e of the positioning hole 11 d. The adapter sideconnection portion 20 is fixed in the first connection portion hole 11 eof the positioning hole 11 d. The opening shape of the first connectionportion hole 11 e is a shape of the horizontally oriented figure of 8 aswill be described below and as shown in FIG. 10. Reference numeral 29denotes an O ring and is arranged in a circumferential groove 11 gformed on the proximal end side of the adapter main body 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, the detachable ring 12, which is a detachableportion and has a substantially tubular shape, is formed concentricallyto the adapter main body 11, so as to be rotatably connected to theadapter main body 11. On the proximal end side inner peripheral surfaceof the detachable ring 12, as shown in FIG. 2, there is provided afemale screw portion 12 a into which the male screw portions 33 a and 33b are screwed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the hood portion 13 is an exterior member, at thedistal end portion of which the curved surface portion is formed asdescribed above. The opening on the side of the proximal end portion ofthe hood portion 13 is fixed integrally to the adapter main body 11, forexample, by adhesion. LEDs 14 mounted on the LED holding plate 18 arearranged in the illumination hole 15 having an opening on the side ofthe one side surface 13 a of the hood portion 13. Further, theobservation window 16 a, a space ring, a diaphragm, and the like, whichconfigure the side view optical system 16 are fixed in the opticalportion hole 17 having an opening on the side of the one side surface 13a of the hood portion 13.

The LED holding plate 18 is arranged integrally with the distal endsurface side portion of the adapter main body 11. A substrate 9 isarranged on a substrate arrangement surface 18 a of the LED holdingplate 18. A pattern 9 a, for example, as shown in FIG. 3 is formedbeforehand on the substrate 9. On the substrate 9, there are mounted theLEDs 14 and a pair of LED electrodes 28 as element electrodes. Wiringmembers 8 are respectively electrically connected between a head portion28 a of the LED electrode 28 provided on the substrate 9 and a contactportion 14 a of the LED 14, and between the pattern 9 a and a contactportion 14 a of the LED 14. Reference numeral 28 b denotes a pin portionof the LED electrode 28, and one end side of the flexible substrate 19is electrically connected to the pin portion 28 b.

The adapter side connection portion 20 will be described with referenceto the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, and FIG. 9, the adapter side connectionportion 20 is a contact pin unit which is configured by a pair of casebodies 23, first pin members 21 configuring a contact pin, second pinmembers 22 configuring an abutting pin, coil springs 24 serving as anurging member, and an adapter side insulating portion 25 configuring anouter sheath. The first pin member 21, the second pin member 22, thecase body 23, and the coil spring 24 are conductive members which areformed of aluminum, brass, iron, or the like, and the surface of whichis plated with a high conductivity material such as gold. The referencecharacter 26 denotes an electrical connection member which is configuredby arranging the first pin member 21, the second pin member 22 and thecoil spring 24 in the case body 23.

The adapter side insulating portion 25 is formed of a high heatresistance resin member, and integrally covers a pair of electricalconnection members 26 so as to insulate the pair of electricalconnection members 26 as conductive portions from each other. At thedistal end portion of a pin portion 22 b of the second pin member 22,there are provided four contact portions 22 c having a tapered shapewhich becomes thinner toward the distal end side. The four contactportions 22 c are formed by providing two V-shaped grooves in a crossshape in the pin distal end portion from the side of the distal endsurface.

Here, the electrical connection member 26 configured by the first pinmember 21, the second pin member 22, the case body 23, and the coilspring 24 is described.

The first pin member 21 is arranged on the distal end side of the casebody 23. The first pin member 21 is provided with a flange portion 21 a,and the flange portion 21 a is fixed integrally with the case body 23by, for example, a conductive adhesive. In the fixed state, a pinportion 21 b of the first pin member 21 is in the state of projectingfrom the distal end side of the case body 23 by a predetermined amount.The coil spring 24 is slidably arranged in the case body 23 to which thefirst pin member 21 is fixed. One end side of the coil spring 24 isarranged in contact with the proximal end surface of the flange portion21 a which configures the first pin member 21. The second pin member 22is slidably arranged in the case body 23 in which the coil spring 24 isarranged. In this arrangement state, the distal end surface of a flangeportion 22 a of the second pin member 22 is arranged in contact with theproximal end side of the coil spring 24. In this arrangement state, acaulked portion 23 a configured by bending the entire periphery of theproximal end portion of the case body 23 in the center axis direction isprovided at a predetermined position. By providing the caulked portion23 a, the second pin member 22 of the electrical connection member 26 isurged by the urging force of the coil spring 24 in the axis direction,and the pin portion 22 b of the second pin member 22 projects from theproximal end side of the case body 23 by a predetermined amount. Thecaulked portion 23 a in the electrical connection member 26 is toprevent the second pin member 22 from falling off. The second pin member22 which is in the projecting state by being urged by the coil spring24, is slidable in the axis direction.

The adapter side connection portion 20 is configured in a state wherethe pair of electrical connection members 26 are arranged in parallelwith each other at a predetermined interval. The electrical connectionmembers 26 arranged in the adapter side connection portion 20 arecovered by the adapter side insulating portion 25, so as to be insulatedfrom each other by the adapter side insulating portion 25. In thepresent embodiment, the adapter side connection portion 20 isspecifically configured by insert molding. For this reason, the endportion of the first pin member 21 covered by the adapter sideinsulating portion 25 is set in the state of projecting from the one endsurface of the adapter side insulating portion 25 by a predeterminedamount. Further, the end portion of the second pin member 22 covered bythe adapter side insulating portion 25 is set in the state of projectingfrom the other end surface of the adapter side insulating portion 25 bya predetermined amount.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 7 to 9, the adapter side insulating portion25 is configured by including an eaves portion 25 e on the side of thesecond pin member 22. As shown in FIG. 8, the eaves portion 25 e isprovided so as to cover the one surface side (the upper side in thefigure) of the pair of case bodies 23. The eaves portion 25 e prevents atrouble caused by the case body 23 electrically contacting the rotationstopping portion 34.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the adapter side insulating portion 25 isprovided over the entire periphery of the case body 23 which configuresthe electrical connection member 26 of the adapter side connectionportion 20. The thickness of the adapter side insulating portion 25covering the case body 23 is set to a dimension T except for the portionin which the electrical connection members are adjacent to each other.

Specifically, the thickness of an inter-pin adapter side insulatingportion 25 f which is an inter-pin insulating portion on a lineperpendicular to the center axes of the pair of electrical connectionmembers 26 configuring the adapter side connection portion 20, in otherwords, the thickness of the inter-pin adapter side insulating portion 25f which is provided between the case bodies 23 of the electricalconnection members 26 arranged adjacent to each other, is set to adimension smaller than twice the thickness T (described as 2T—α a in thefigure) of a circumferential insulating portion 25 g which configuresthe adapter side insulating portion 25 covering the periphery of thecase body 23.

In the present embodiment, the thickness dimension of the inter-pinadapter side insulating portion 25 f is reduced to be smaller than twicethe thickness T of the circumferential insulating portion 25 g, and theinterval between the pair of adjacent electrical connection members 26is reduced as much as possible within a range in which the insulatingstate can be maintained.

In this way, the adapter side connection portion 20 having an integralconfiguration is configured in such a way that the pair of electricalconnection members 26, each of which is configured by arranging thefirst pin member 21, the second pin member 22, and the coil spring 24 inthe case body 23, are provided in the adapter side insulating portion25, so as to be in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval.Then, in this configuration, the thickness of the inter-pin adapter sideinsulating portion 25 f on the line perpendicular to the center axes ofthe pair of electrical connection members 26 of the adapter sideconnection portion 20 is set to a dimension smaller than the thickness2T of the circumferential insulating portion 25 g.

As a result, the thickness of the insulating portion connecting betweenthe center axes of the pair of electrical connection members 26 providedin the adapter side connection portion 20 is made smaller by a than thethickness in the case where the two electrical connection members 26,which are respectively provided with the adapter side insulating portion25 having the thickness T around the periphery of the case body 23, arearranged side by side. Specifically, the thickness dimension of theadapter side insulating portion 25 in the case where the pair ofelectrical connection members 26 provided with the adapter sideinsulating portion 25 having the thickness T are arranged side by side,becomes 4T as a whole, while the thickness of the insulating portion onthe line connecting between the center axes of the pair of electricalconnection members 26 provided in the adapter side connection portion 20can be made smaller than 4T by α.

Therefore, in the adapter side connection portion 20 configured suchthat the pair of electrical connection members 26 are arranged inparallel with the other at a predetermined interval so as to beintegrated by providing the adapter side insulating portion 25, thethickness of the inter-pin adapter side insulating portion 25 f is setsmaller than 2T, so as to thereby reduce the longitudinal widthdimension of the adapter side connection portion 20. As a result, it ispossible to further reduce the diameter of the distal end adapter 10.

Further, the adapter side connection portion 20 in which the pair ofelectrical connection members 26 are integrally configured, is arrangedon the lower side from the horizontal axis Ha of the distal end adapter10 as shown in FIG. 4. In the configuration in which two electricalconnection members are respectively arranged on both sides of thehorizontal axis Ha, the optical axis horizontal axis OHa of the opticalhole 11 c cannot be arranged eccentrically upward by β in the figurewith respect to the horizontal axis Ha. However, with the abovedescribed configuration, the optical axis horizontal axis OHa of theoptical hole 11 c can be arranged eccentrically upward by β in thefigure with respect to the horizontal axis Ha, and thereby the diameterof the distal end portion 3 a can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, a first recessed portion 25 aand a second recessed portion 25 b having an abutting surface 25 d areprovided on the side surface portion of the adapter side insulatingportion 25 which configures the adapter side connection portion 20. Thefirst recessed portion 25 a has a predetermined recessed shape which isopened on the proximal end surface side, and has an abutting surface 25c in an intermediate portion between the proximal end surface side andthe distal end side. Similarly to the first recessed portion 25 a, thesecond recessed portion 25 b has a predetermined recessed shape which isopened on the proximal end surface side, and has the abutting surface 25d in the intermediate portion. As shown in FIG. 8, the first recessedportion 25 a and the second recessed portion 25 b are formed in anopposing positional relationship substantially at the center of both theplanar shaped side surfaces positioned one above the other in thefigure, that is, between the electrical connection members.

The abutting surfaces 25 c and 25 d are positioning surfaces for settingthe arrangement position of the adapter side connection portion 20. Theabutting surfaces 25 c and 25 d are respectively brought into contact,as will be described below and as shown in FIG. 10, with an abutting endsurface 11 m which is a positioning portion of projecting portion 11 h,and with an abutting end surface 11 n which is a positioning portion ofa projecting portion 11 k. The forming positions of the abuttingsurfaces 25 c and 25 d are set so that the distance from the distal endsurface of one of the first pin members 21 to the abutting surface 25 cis equal to the distance from the distal end surface of the other of thefirst pin members 21 to the abutting surface 25 d. In other words, theabutting surfaces 25 c and 25 d are end surfaces of the recessedportions 25 a and 25 b which are formed in the intermediate portion ofthe side surface portion of the adapter side insulating portion 25 atthe same distance from the proximal end side end surface of the adapterside insulating portion 25.

Also, when the adapter side insulating portion 25 of the adapter sideconnection portion 20 is viewed from the front surface side in the statewhere the contact portions 22 c of the pair of second pin members 22 areset to face the front surface, the external shape of the adapter sideinsulating portion 25 on the side of the second pin members 22 is anapproximate figure-of-8 shape. On the other hand, when the adapter sideinsulating portion 25 of the adapter side connection portion 20 isviewed from the front surface side in the state where the distal ends ofthe pair of first pin members 21 are set to face the front surface, theexternal shape of the adapter side insulating portion 25 on the side ofthe first pin members 21 is an approximate elliptic shape, in otherwords, a figure-of-0 shape.

Note that the shape of the first recessed portion 25 a and the shape ofthe second recessed portion 25 b are made different from each other soas to prevent the reverse assembling, and are configured such that theprojecting portion 11 h is inserted and arranged in the first recessedportion 25 a, and the projecting portion 11 k is inserted and arrangedin the second recessed portion 25 b.

The adapter side connection portion 20 is fixed in the first connectionportion hole 11 e shown in FIG. 10. The opening shape of the firstconnection portion hole 11 e is an approximate figure-of-8 shape, whichshape is arranged in parallel with the horizontal axis Ha. The firstconnection portion hole 11 e is formed by including the first projectingportion 11 h and the second projecting portion 11 k which project in thecentral direction of the hole and are in parallel with the longitudinalaxis.

When the adapter side connection portion 20 is inserted and arranged inthe first connection portion hole 11 e, the first projecting portion 11h of the first connection portion hole 11 e is inserted into the firstrecessed portion 25 a on the side of the second pin member 22 of theadapter side connection portion 20. Further, the second projectingportion 11 k of the first connection portion hole 11 e is inserted intothe second recessed portion 25 b of the adapter side connection portion20.

In this insertion state, the adapter side connection portion 20 ispushed into the first connection portion hole 11 e. Then, after thesecond pin member 22 is made to project from the proximal end sideopening, the abutting end surface 11 m of the first projecting portion11 h is brought into contact with the abutting surface 25 c, and theabutting end surface 11 n of the second projecting portion 11 k isbrought into contact with the abutting surface 25 d. Thereby, theadapter side connection portion 20 is arranged in the first connectionportion hole 11 e in a predetermined state. In this arrangement state,the second pin member 22 of the adapter side connection portion 20 isarranged at a predetermined position in the abutting pin arrangementrecessed portion 11 f in a predetermined state.

The flexible substrate 19 electrically connects the pair of first pinmembers 21 to the pin portions 28 b of the pair of LED electrodes 28. Tothis end, a pair of first contact portions 19 a for electricalconnection with the pair of first pin members 21, and a pair of secondcontact portions 19 b for electrical connection with the pair of pinportions 28 b, are provided on the respective end portion sides of theflexible substrate 19. The interval between the first contact portions19 a is configured so as to correspond to the adapter side connectionportion 20 which is a member for effecting the reduction in thediameter. The interval between the second contact portions 19 b is setlarger so as to correspond to the arrangement position of the pattern 9a and the LED electrodes 28 which are arranged in consideration of theworkability at the time of connecting the wiring member 8, and the like.That is, the interval between the second contact portions 19 b is formedlarger than the interval between the first contact portions 19 a.

The distal end adapter 10 is provided with a resistor 7 for determiningthe type of the distal end adapter. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5and 6, the resistor 7 is arranged in a D-shape space 10S1 configured ofthe hood portion 13 and the LED holding portion 18 so as to face aninner surface of the hood portion 13 of the flexible substrate 19. Themounting position of the resistor 7 on the flexible substrate 19 is notlimited in the D-shape space 10S1, and may be in a distal end side space10S2 configured of the hood portion 13 and the LED holding plate 18 asshown by the dashed lines, for example.

The resistor 7 is mounted on a resistor contact 19 c formed on theflexible substrate 19 shown in FIG. 10. The resistor 7 of differentresistance value is mounted for each type of the distal end adapter.

The resistor for determining the type of the distal end adapter is thusmounted on the flexible substrate electrically connecting the pair offirst pin members and the pin portions of the pair of LED electrodes.The resistor mounted on the flexible substrate is arranged in theD-shape space or in the distal end side space. This prevents accidentalcontact of the resistor with other electronic components and badelectrical contact of the resistor.

In addition, the resistor is mounted on the flexible substrate so as toface the inner surface of the hood portion, which enables an assemblyworker (hereinafter abbreviated as worker) to visually recognize aresistance value of the resistor at the time of assembly work forintegrally fixing the adapter main body to the hood portion. As aresult, wrong assembly can be prevented.

Note that, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 5, the resistor 7 may beelectrically connected to the first pin member 21. Furthermore, inaddition to the resistor 7, an electric element such as a temperaturesensor may be arranged on the flexible substrate 19.

Here, a method for attaching the adapter side connection portion 20 tothe adapter main body 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to12.

When the adapter side connection portion 20 is attached to the adaptermain body 11, the worker applies an adhesive to the plane surface sideand the curved surface side of the adapter side insulating portion 25,which are the side surface portion of the adapter side connectionportion 20. Then, as described above, the worker inserts the side of thesecond pin member 22 of the adapter side connection portion 20 from thedistal end side opening of the first connection portion hole 11 e shownin FIG. 10. At this time, the worker makes the first projecting portion11 h inserted in the first recessed portion 25 a, and makes the secondprojecting portion 11 k inserted in the second recessed portion 25 b.

And in this inserted state, the worker pushes the adapter sideconnection portion 20 into the first connection portion hole 11 e, so asto bring the abutting surface 25 c into contact with the abutting endsurface 11 m of the first projecting portion 11 h, and to bring theabutting surface 25 d into contact with the abutting end surface 11 n ofthe second projecting portion 11 k. Then, the worker holds the contactstate of the abutting surfaces 25 c and 25 d of the adapter sideconnection portion 20 with the abutting end surfaces 11 m and 11 n untilthe adhesive is cured.

Thereby, the adapter side connection portion 20 is integrally fixed tothe adapter main body 11. At this time, the pin portions 21 b of thepair of first pin members 21 are aligned so as to project from the endsurface of the distal end side opening to the distal end side by apredetermined amount, and the pin portions 22 b of the pair of secondpin members 22 are aligned so as to project in the abutting pinarrangement recessed portion 11 f from the bottom surface of theabutting pin arrangement recessed portion 11 f by a predeterminedamount.

Then, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the flexible substrate 19 is bentand housed in the space formed by the projecting portion 11 a and theLED holding plate 18. The first contact portions 19 a provided on theflexible substrate 19 are arranged in a predetermined state with respectto the pin portions 21 b of the respective first pin members 21. Then,one of the pin portions 21 b and one of the first contact portions 19 aare electrically connected to each other with, for example, solder 30,as shown in FIG. 5. Further, the other of the first pin portions 21 band the other of the first contact portions 19 a are electricallyconnected to each other with solder 30.

In this way, the first connection portion hole 11 e whose opening shapeis an approximate figure-of-8 shape, is formed in the distal end adapter10. On the other hand, the first recessed portion 25 a having theabutting surface 25 c and the second recessed portion 25 b having theabutting surface 25 d are provided on the side surface portion of theplane surface side of the adapter side insulating portion 25 whichconfigures the adapter side connection portion 20.

Thereby, the external shape of the adapter side insulating portion 25 onthe side of the second pin member 22 becomes an approximate figure-of-8shape which coincides with the opening shape of the first connectionportion hole 11 e. Also, the respective distances from the abuttingsurfaces 25 c and 25 d of the recessed portions 25 a and 25 b to thedistal end of the contact portion 22 c of the second pin member 22 areset to be equal to each other, so that the abutting surface 25 c and 25d are used as the positioning surfaces.

For this reason, when the adapter side insulating portion 25 having thefigure-of-8 shaped portion is inserted and arranged in the firstconnection portion hole 11 e having the figure-of-8 shaped opening, theabutting surface 25 c of the first recessed portion 25 a is brought intocontact with the abutting end surface 11 m of the first projectingportion 11 h provided in the first connection portion hole 11 e, andalso the abutting surface 25 d of the second recessed portion 25 b isbrought into contact with the abutting end surface 11 n of the secondprojecting portion 11 k provided in the first connection portion hole 11e.

Thereby, the adapter side connection portion 20 is positioned andarranged in the predetermined position with respect to the firstconnection portion hole 11 e of the distal end adapter 10. Further, inthis abutting arrangement state, the adapter side connection portion 20is integrally fixed to the distal end adapter 10, so that the pair offirst pin members 21 and the pair of second pin members 22 can bearranged in the predetermined position and in the predeterminedprojecting state.

That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible for the worker toeasily perform a work for arranging the pair of electrical connectionmembers 26 each having the first pin member 21, the second pin member22, and the like, in the predetermined position and in the predeterminedstate, by arranging the adapter side connection portion 20 in the firstconnection portion hole 11 e in the predetermined state withoutarranging the two electrical connection members one by one.

Further, in order to position and arrange the adapter side connectionportion 20 in the predetermined position with respect to the firstconnection portion hole 11 e of the distal end adapter 10, the firstrecessed portion 25 a and the second recessed portion 25 b whichrespectively have the end surfaces, are formed in the side surfaceportion of the adapter side insulating portion 25 of the adapter sideconnection portion 20, and the end surfaces of the recessed portions 25a and 25 b are respectively used as the abutting surfaces 25 c and 25 d.On the other hand, the first projecting portion 11 h which is insertedand arranged in the first recessed portion 25 a, and the secondprojecting portion 11 k which is inserted and arranged in the secondrecessed portion 25 b, are provided in the first connection portion hole11 e. Also, the distal end surfaces of the projecting portions 11 k and11 h are respectively used as the abutting end surface 11 m which isbrought into contact with the abutting surface 25 c of the firstrecessed portion 25 a, and as the abutting end surface 11 n which isbrought into contact with the abutting surface 25 d of the secondrecessed portion 25 b.

Therefore, when the adapter side connection portion 20 is arranged inthe first connection portion hole 11 e, the abutting end surface 11 m ofthe first projecting portion 11 h is brought into contact with theabutting surface 25 c of the first recessed portion 25 a, and theabutting end surface 11 n of the second projecting portion 11 k isbrought into contact with the abutting surface 25 d of the secondrecessed portion 25 b. Thereby, the adapter side connection portion 20can be arranged in the state of being positioned.

That is, the adapter side connection portion 20 is positioned andarranged by bringing the abutting end surfaces 11 m and 11 n intocontact with the abutting surfaces 25 c and 25 d which are configured soas to be recessed from the outer peripheral surface of the adapter sideinsulating portion 25, without providing a flange portion, or the like,which projects from the outer peripheral surface of the adapter sideinsulating portion 25 configuring the maximum external shape of theadapter side connection portion 20. Thereby, it is possible to positionand arrange the adapter side connection portion 20 in the distal endadapter 10, and to fix the adapter side connection portion 20 to thedistal end adapter 10, without largely forming the external shape ofdistal end adapter 10.

Note that in the above described explanation, it is assumed that theadhesive is applied beforehand to the side surface portions of the planesurface side and the curved surface side of the adapter side insulatingportion 25 which configures the adapter side connection portion 20.However, it may also be configured such that after the adapter sideconnection portion 20 is arranged in the first connection portion hole11 e in the predetermined state, an adhesive having excellent fluidityis poured in the gap between the adapter side connection portion 20 andthe first connection portion hole 11 e, and thereby the adapter sideconnection portion 20 and the first connection portion hole 11 e arestuck and fixed to each other.

Further, in the above described explanation, it is assumed that afterthe adapter side connection portion 20 is fixed to the first connectionportion hole 11 e, the first pin portion 21 b and the first contactportion 19 a of the flexible substrate 19 are electrically connected toeach other. However, it may also be configured such that the adapterside connection portion 20 in the state where the first pin portion 21 bis electrically connected to the first contact portion 19 a of theflexible substrate 19, is arranged in the first connection portion hole11 e in a predetermined state, and thereafter fixed in this state.

Further, the present embodiment is configured such that the pair offirst pin members 21, the pair of second pin members 22, and the like,are provided in the adapter side connection portion 20. However, whenthree or more of the pin members 21 and 22 are needed, the adapter sideconnection portion is formed by providing the adapter side insulatingportion 25 in the state where a required number of electrical connectionmembers 26 are arranged in parallel with each other at predeterminedintervals.

Next, the distal end portion 3 a and the endoscope side connectionportion 40 fixed to the distal end portion 3 a will be described withreference to FIGS. 13 to 17.

As shown in FIG. 13, the distal end portion 3 a is configuredsymmetrically with respect to the vertical axis Vc as the center line inthe figure. As described above with reference to FIG. 2, the distal endportion 3 a is configured mainly by the exterior portion 31 and thedistal end portion main body 32 which is the apparatus main body. Therotation stopping portion 34, and the contact surface portion 41 a ofthe terminal member 41 which configures the endoscope side connectionportion 40, are provided so as to project on the distal end side of thedistal end portion main body 32. The rotation stopping portion 34 isconfigured so as to be inserted and arranged in the positioning hole 11d. Also, the distal end adapter 10 and the distal end portion 3 a areset in a predetermined positional relationship by arranging thesubstantially D-shaped rotation stopping portion 34 in the substantiallyD-shaped positioning hole 11 d.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the distal end portion main body 32 whichconfigures the distal end portion 3 a, there are provided the distal endlens cover 35 a, a stepped lens hole 32 b, and an image-pickup hole 32c, which configure the image-forming optical system 35. The stepped lenshole 32 b is a hole for arranging a plurality of optical lenses 35 b and35 c, and the image-pickup hole 32 c is a hole for arranging an imagepickup apparatus 36 provided with an image pickup device 36 a, such as aCCD. That is, a stepped through hole configured by the image-pickup hole32 c and the stepped lens hole 32 b, which have different diameters, isformed in the distal end portion main body 32. An image-pickup frame 36b configuring the image pickup apparatus 36 is arranged in theimage-pickup hole 32 c. The image-pickup frame 36 b is a stepped tubularmember having a substantially uniform thickness. In the presentembodiment, the distal end part of the image-pickup frame 36 b isarranged in the image-pickup hole 32 c. A lens cover 35 d is arranged onthe distal end side of the image-pickup frame 36 b, and a cover glass 35e is arranged on the proximal end side of the image-pickup frame 36 b.The cover glass 35 e is stuck and fixed to a package glass (not shown)provided on the image pickup surface side of the image pickup device 36a.

An image pickup circuit substrate (not shown) is electrically andmechanically connected to the proximal end side of the image pickupdevice 36 a. Electronic components, such as a capacitor and atransistor, are mounted on the image pickup circuit substrate. A signalline which is inserted in the signal cable (not shown) is electricallyconnected to the image pickup circuit substrate in a predeterminedstate. The image pickup device 36 a, the image pickup circuit substrate,and the like, are sealed by, for example, a thermoplastic resin 36 c.

As shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14, and FIG. 17, an endoscope side connectionportion arrangement hole (hereinafter described as second connectionportion hole) 32 d is formed in the lower part of the distal end portionmain body 32 configuring the distal end portion 3 a in the figure. Theendoscope side connection portion 40 is fixed in the second connectionportion hole 32 d. The opening shape of the second connection portionhole 32 d is a figure-of-8 shape which is substantially the same as theopening shape of the first connection portion hole 11 e. Also, thesecond connection portion hole 32 d has the same configuration as thatin the first connection portion hole 11 e. That is, a first projectingportion 32 e provided with a distal end side end surface 32 g, and asecond projecting portion 32 f provided with a distal end side endsurface 32 h, are formed in parallel to the longitudinal axis direction.

The endoscope side connection portion 40 shown in FIGS. 13 to 17 isconfigured by the pair of terminal members 41, and an endoscope sideinsulating portion 42 which configures an exterior sheath. The terminalmember 41 is configured by including the disk-shaped contact surfaceportion 41 a and a thin and long rod portion 41 b. The contact portion22 c of the second pin member 22 which configures the adapter sideconnection portion 20 is brought into contact with the disk shapedsurface of the contact surface portion 41 a. Therefore, the outerdiameter of the contact surface portion 41 a is configured to be largerthan the outer diameter of the rod portion 41 b, within a possible rangein consideration of the contact state with the contact portion 22 c.Note that the terminal member 41 is a conductive member, which is formedof aluminum, brass, iron, or the like, and the surface of the terminalmember 41 is plated with a highly conductive material, such as forexample, gold.

The endoscope side insulating portion 42 covers the entire periphery ofthe pair of terminal members 41 in an insulated state by leaving theproximal end side portion of the rod portion 41 b of the pair ofterminal members 41. The pair of terminal members 41 covered by theendoscope side insulating portion 42 are arranged in parallel with eachother at a predetermined interval. The endoscope side insulating portion42 is configured by a contact surface portion arrangement portion 42 aand a covering portion 42 b. The contact surface portion arrangementportion 42 a is formed like a pedestal, and covers from the proximal endsurface of the contact surface portion 41 a to a part of the rod portion41 b. Thus, the remaining portion of the endoscope side insulatingportion 42, that is, the portion covering the intermediate portion ofthe rod portion 41 b is the covering portion 42 b. Note that in thepresent embodiment, the proximal end side surface of the contact surfaceportion 41 a is in the state of being placed on the distal end surfaceof the contact surface portion arrangement portion 42 a.

A stepped surface formed in the boundary portion between the contactsurface portion arrangement portion 42 a and the covering portion 42 bis a butting surface 42 c serving as a positioning surface. A part ofthe distal end surface 32 a of the distal end portion main body 32including the distal end side end surfaces 32 g and 32 h is brought intocontact with the butting surface 42 c. That is, the external shape ofthe contact surface portion arrangement portion 42 a is formed largerthan the external shape of the covering portion 42 b.

When the endoscope side insulating portion 42 of the endoscope sideconnection portion 40 is viewed from the front surface side in the statewhere the pair of contact surface portions 41 a are set to face thefront surface, the external shape of the contact surface portionarrangement portion 42 a is an elliptic shape, in other words, in anapproximate figure-of-0 shape. On the distal end surface of the contactsurface portion arrangement portion 42 a, the contact surface portions41 a of the two terminal members 41 are arranged so as to be separatedfrom each other at a predetermined distance. The contact surface portionarrangement portion 42 a prevents the outer peripheral surface of thecontact surface portion 41 a from being brought into electrical contactwith the rotation stopping portion 34. Therefore, the external shape endsurface of the contact surface portion arrangement portion 42 a isformed wider, in other words, larger than the outer peripheral surfaceof the contact surface portion 41 a, so as to prevent the outerperipheral surface of the contact surface portion 41 a from projectingto the outside from the external shape end surface of the contactsurface portion arrangement portion 42 a. That is, the contact surfaceportion 41 a is arranged on the contact surface portion arrangementportion 42 a in such a manner that any part of the contact surfaceportion 41 a is prevented from being extended to the outside from theelliptic outline of the contact surface portion arrangement portion 42a.

The covering portion 42 b includes a first recessed portion 42 d and asecond recessed portion 42 e. For this reason, when the covering portion42 b is viewed from the front surface side in the state where theproximal end surface of the rod portion 41 b projecting from thecovering portion 42 b is set to face the front surface, the externalshape of the covering portion 42 b is an approximate figure-of-8 shape,which is smaller than the above described elliptic shape.

Note that the endoscope side connection portion 40 is configured in sucha way that in the state where the pair of terminal members 41 arearranged in parallel with each other at the predetermined interval, theendoscope side insulating portion 42 is provided so as to make theterminal members 41 covered and insulated from each other. In thepresent embodiment, specifically, the endoscope side connection portion40 is formed by insert molding. For this reason, the contact surfaceportion 41 a of the terminal member 41 covered by the endoscope sideinsulating portion 42 is integrally arranged in a close contact statewith the contact surface portion arrangement portion 42 a.

Further, in the cross sectional shape shown in FIG. 14, the widthdimension W of the covering portion 42 b provided in the endoscope sideinsulating portion 42 which configures the endoscope side connectionportion 40, is set smaller than the outer diameter dimension of thecontact surface portion 41 a of the terminal member 41. Further, thefirst projecting portion 32 e is inserted in the first recessed portion42 d, and the second projecting portion 32 f is inserted in the secondrecessed portion 42 e.

That is, the adapter side connection portion 20 is configured in such away that the endoscope side insulating portion 42 is provided around thepair of terminal members 41 which are arranged in parallel with eachother at a predetermined interval. In this configuration, the terminalmember 41 is configured by including the disk shaped contact surfaceportion 41 a and the rod portion 41 b having a diameter smaller thanthat of the contact surface portion 41 a.

The contact surface portion 41 a is formed to have a large diameter inconsideration of the contact property with the contact portion 22 cprovided in the second pin member 22. Also, the contact surface portion41 a is arranged on the pedestal-like wide contact surface portionarrangement portion 42 a without protruding from the contact surfaceportion arrangement portion 42 a. Therefore, the contact surface portion41 a is prevented from being brought into contact with the distal endportion main body 32 and the rotation stopping portion 34.

On the other hand, the rod portion 41 b is formed to have a smalldiameter within a range in which the property as the conductive memberis maintained. Also, the rod portion 41 b is covered by the coveringportion 42 b and the contact surface portion arrangement portion 42 awhile leaving a part of the proximal end portion. This prevents the rodportions 41 b from being brought into contact with each other, andprevents the rod portion 41 b from being brought into contact with thedistal end portion main body 32. In addition, the width dimension of thecovering portion 42 b which covers the rod portion 41 b formed to havethe small diameter, is made smaller than the outer diameter dimension ofthe contact surface portion 41 a of the terminal member 41. Thereby, thereduction in the diameter of the distal end portion 3 a is realized.

In this way, in the endoscope side connection portion 40 which isintegrally configured by providing the pair of terminal members 41 eachhaving the contact surface portion 41 a and the rod portion 41 b, andthe endoscope side insulating portion 42, it is possible to obtain thecontact surface portion 41 a which has a large diameter and effects surecontact with the contact portion 22 c of the second pin member 22. It isalso possible to reduce the width dimension of the covering portion 42 band it is thereby possible to reduce the diameter of the distal endportion 3 a.

The endoscope side connection portion 40 is fixed to the secondconnection portion hole 32 d as shown in FIG. 17. When the endoscopeside connection portion 40 is inserted and arranged in the secondconnection portion hole 32 d, the side of the rod portion 41 b which isexposed from the endoscope side insulating portion 42 configuring theendoscope side connection portion 40, is inserted from the distal endside opening of the second connection portion hole 32 d. At this time,the first projecting portion 32 e of the second connection portion hole32 d is inserted into the first recessed portion 42 d of the coveringportion 42 b which configures the endoscope side connection portion 40,and the second projecting portion 32 f of the second connection portionhole 32 d is inserted into the second recessed portion 42 e of theendoscope side connection portion 40.

In this insertion state, the endoscope side connection portion 40 ispushed into the second connection portion hole 32 d. Then, after the rodportion 41 b is projected from the proximal end side opening, thebutting surface 42 c is brought into contact with the distal end surface32 a of the distal end portion main body 32, which surface includes thedistal end side end surfaces 32 g and 32 h.

Thereby, the endoscope side connection portion 40 is arranged in thesecond connection portion hole 32 d in a predetermined state. At thistime, the rod portion 41 b of the terminal member 41 which configuresthe endoscope side connection portion 40, is arranged in a predeterminedposition in a terminal member arrangement recessed portion 32 k in apredetermined state.

Here, the attachment of the endoscope side connection portion 40 to thedistal end portion 3 a is described with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG.17.

When attaching the endoscope side connection portion 40 to the distalend portion 3 a, the worker applies an adhesive to the side surfaceportion of the endoscope side insulating portion 42, which is the sidesurface of the endoscope side connection portion 40. Then, as describedabove, the worker inserts the side of the rod portion 41 b which isexposed from the endoscope side insulating portion 42 of the endoscopeside connection portion 40, from the distal end side opening of thesecond connection portion hole 32 d shown in FIG. 17. At this time, theworker inserts the first projecting portion 32 e into the first recessedportion 42 d, and inserts the second projecting portion 32 f into thesecond recessed portion 42 e. In this insertion state, the worker pushesthe endoscope side connection portion 40 into the second connectionportion hole 32 d. Then, the butting surface 42 c is brought intocontact with the distal end surface 32 a of the distal end portion mainbody 32, which surface includes the distal end side end surfaces 32 gand 32 h. At this time, the worker holds the abutting state between theendoscope side connection portion 40 and the distal end surface 32 a ofthe distal end portion main body 32, and makes the adhesive cured, so asto thereby fix the endoscope side connection portion 40 to the distalend portion 3 a.

Thereby, the pair of terminal members 41 are fixed in the insulatedstate to the distal end portion main body 32. In this fixed state, thecontact surface portion 41 a of the pair of terminal members 41 isaligned so as to project by a predetermined amount from the distal endsurface of the distal end portion main body 32 to the distal end side.Further, the proximal end portion of the rod portion 41 b of the pair ofterminal members 41 is arranged so as to project in the terminal memberarrangement recessed portion 32 k by a predetermined amount from thebottom surface of the terminal member arrangement recessed portion 32 k.

Note that in this arrangement state, the contact surface portion 41 a ofthe terminal member 41 is arranged on the recessed position side insidea virtual plane P which is in contact with the distal end of therotation stopping portion 34, and with the distal end of the exteriorportion 31. In other words, the contact surface portion 41 a is notprojected outside the virtual plane P. For this reason, even when thedistal end portion 3 a collides with a door, or the like, the contactsurface of the door, or the like, collides with the distal end portion 3a as shown by the virtual plane P, and thereby the contact surfaceportion 41 a can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, in this arrangement state, the contact surface portion 41 a ofthe terminal member 41 is arranged in a slightly recessed positionalrelation to the distal end side surface of the exterior portion 31. Thismakes it possible to prevent the contact surface portion 41 a from beingtouched carelessly by the worker's finger. Also, even when a foreignmatter adheres to the surface of the contact surface portion 41 a, orwhen the surface of the contact surface portion 41 a is stained, it ispossible to easily clean the surface of the contact surface portion 41a, and to remove the foreign matter.

Further, the pair of rod portions 41 b arranged in the terminal memberarrangement recessed portion 32 k are electrically connected with solderto contact portions 43 a which are respectively provided at the otherend portions of a flexible substrate 43. An electrical cable extendedfrom the power supply portion not shown is electrically connected to oneend portion of the flexible substrate 43.

In this way, the second connection portion hole 32 d having the openingshape of the approximate figure-of-8 shape is formed on the distal endsurface of the distal end portion main body 32 which configures thedistal end portion 3 a. On the other hand, the recessed portions 42 dand 42 e are provided in the covering portion 42 b which configures theendoscope side insulating portion 42 configuring the endoscope sideconnection portion 40. Thereby, the external shape of the coveringportion 42 b configuring the endoscope side insulating portion 42becomes the approximate figure-of-8 shape which is coincident with theopening shape of the second connection portion hole 32 d. Then, thestepped portion formed by the contact surface portion arrangementportion 42 a and the covering portion 42 b is used as the buttingsurface 42 c serving as the positioning surface. Thereby, when thefigure-of-8 shaped endoscope side insulating portion 42 is inserted andarranged in the figure-of-8 shaped second connection portion hole 32 d,the butting surface 42 c is brought into contact with the distal endsurface of the distal end portion main body 32, which surface includesthe distal end side end surface 32 g of the first projecting portion 32e and the distal end side end surface 32 f of the second projectingportion 32 h, which portions are provided in the second connectionportion hole 32 d.

Thereby, the endoscope side connection portion 40 is positioned andarranged in the predetermined position with respect to the secondconnection portion hole 32 d of the distal end portion 3 a. In thiscontact arrangement state, the endoscope side connection portion 40 isintegrally fixed to the distal end portion 3 a, so that the insulationof the pair of terminal members can be secured, and the contact surfaceportion 41 a of the pair of terminal members 41 and the pair of rodportions 41 b can be arranged in the predetermined positions in thepredetermined projecting state.

That is, in the present embodiment, it is possible for the worker toeasily perform the work for arranging the two terminal members 41 in thepredetermined positions and in the predetermined state, by performingthe work for fixing the endoscope side connection portion 40 in thesecond connection portion hole 32 d.

Note that in the above described explanation, it is assumed that theadhesive is applied beforehand to the side surface portion of theendoscope side insulating portion 42 which configures the endoscope sideconnection portion 40. However, it may also be configured such thatafter the endoscope side connection portion 40 is arranged in the secondconnection portion hole 32 d in the predetermined state, an adhesivehaving excellent fluidity is poured into the gap between the endoscopeside connection portion 40 and the second connection portion hole 32 d,so as to make the endoscope side connection portion 40 stuck and fixedto the second connection portion hole 32 d.

Here, the assembling of the distal end adapter 10 to the distal endportion 3 a by the user is described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG.19.

When assembling the distal end adapter 10 to the distal end portion 3 a,the user first performs positioning of the female screw portion 12 aformed in the end portion of the detachable ring 12 and the first malescrew portion 33 a formed in the exterior portion 31 so that the screwportions are screwed with each other. Then, the user rotates thedetachable ring 12 in a predetermined direction, so as to make thefemale screw portion 12 a screwed to the first male screw portion 33 a.Thereafter, in this screwed state, the user further rotates thedetachable ring 12 in the predetermined direction. Then, the femalescrew portion 12 a is moved beyond the first male screw portion 33 a, sothat the female screw portion 12 a is arranged on the sliding portion 33c so as to be moved back and forth in the axis direction.

Next, the user aligns the positioning hole 11 d provided in the adaptermain body 11 with the rotation stopping portion 34 provided in thedistal end portion main body 32. Then, the user performs a handoperation so as to reduce the relative distance between the detachablering 12 and the second male screw portion 33 b. Then, the rotationstopping portion 34 is inserted in the positioning hole 11 d. In thisinsertion arrangement state, the user performs a hand operation tofurther reduce the relative distance between the detachable ring 12 andthe second male screw portion 33 b. Then, the female screw portion 12 aformed in the end portion of the detachable ring 12 is brought intocontact with the second male screw portion 33 b formed in the exteriorportion 31.

Here, the user rotates the detachable ring 12 in the predetermineddirection in order to make the male screw portion 33 b screwed into thefemale screw portion 12 a. Then, the male screw portion 33 b is screwedinto the female screw portion 12 a according to the rotation of thedetachable ring 12. Subsequently, when the user continues to rotate thedetachable ring 12, the bottom surface of the positioning hole 11 d isbrought gradually closer to the distal end surface of the rotationstopping portion 34. Then, the contact portion 22 c of the second pinmember 22 provided in the adapter main body 11 is brought into contactwith the contact surface portion 41 a arranged on the distal end surfaceof the distal end portion main body 32.

At this time, the user continues to rotate the detachable ring 12, andhence the contact portion 22 c is moved toward the distal end directionof the distal end adapter 10 against the urging force of the coil spring24. On the other hand, the distal end portion of the exterior portion 31is brought into contact with the 0 ring 29, so that the amount ofrotating force of the detachable ring 12 is changed. Thereafter, whenthe user continues to rotate the detachable ring 12, the bottom surfaceof the rotation positioning hole 11 d is brought into contact with thedistal end surface of the rotation stopping portion 34. Thereby, asshown in FIG. 18, the attachment of the distal end adapter 10 to thedistal end portion 3 a is completed, so that an adapter type endoscope50 is configured.

When the user turns on a power supply switch on the operation panel 6,the control portion 4 provided to the endoscope main body portion 2 candetermine the type of the distal end adapter based on the resistancevalue of the resistor 7 and drive the power supply and the videoprocessor under the optimal condition.

In the adapter type endoscope 50 shown in FIG. 19, the contact portions22 c of the second pin members 22 configuring the pair of electricalconnection members 26 of the adapter side connection portion 20, isarranged on the contact surface portion 41 a of the terminal member 41configuring the endoscope side connection portion 40 so as to be urgedby the urging force of the coil springs 24 configuring the electricalconnection member 26. Thereby, the LED 14 mounted on the LED holdingplate 18 is electrically connected to the electrical cable extended fromthe power supply portion via a flexible substrate 43, the terminalmember 41 configuring the endoscope side connection portion 40, thesecond pin member 22 configuring the adapter side connection portion 20,the case body 23, the coil spring 24, the first pin member 21, theflexible substrate 19, the LED electrode 28.

Further, in the adapter type endoscope 50, the distal end lens cover 35a of the image-forming optical system 35 provided in the rotationstopping portion 34 which configures the distal end portion main body32, is configured to face the second optical lens 16 d which is one ofthe side view optical systems 16 provided in the distal end adapter 10,in a predetermined positional relationship. That is, a side viewobservation optical system 51 is configured in such a manner that theoptical axis of the side view optical system 16 is made coincident withthe optical axis of the image-forming optical system 35, and that anoptical image passing through the observation window 16 a, the prism 16b, the first optical lens 16 c, the second optical lens 16 d, the distalend lens cover 35 a, the optical lens 35 b, the optical lens 35 c, thelens cover 35 d, and the cover glass 35 e is formed on the image pickupsurface of the image pickup device 36 a.

Therefore, in the adapter type endoscope 50, the LED 14 mounted on theLED holding plate 18 is brought into a light-emitting state by supplyingelectric power to the LED 14 via the electrical cable, so as toilluminate an observation site. On the other hand, the optical image ofthe observation site illuminated by the LED 14 is formed on the imagepickup surface of the image pickup device 36 a.

In this way, the contact surface portion 41 a of the terminal member 41provided in the endoscope side connection portion 40 is configured tohave a large diameter. Thereby, when the distal end adapter 10 providedwith the adapter side connection portion 20 is mounted to the distal endportion 3 a provided with the endoscope side connection portion 40, thecontact surface portion 41 a is surely brought into contact with thecontact portion 22 c of the second pin member 22 provided in the adapterside connection portion 20, so that an electrical connection state canbe obtained.

Further, the second pin member 22 provided in the adapter sideconnection portion 20 is urged in the projecting direction by the coilspring 24 provided in the adapter side connection portion 20. Therefore,when the distal end adapter 10 provided with the adapter side connectionportion 20 is attached to the distal end portion 3 a provided with theendoscope side connection portion 40, the electrical connection statecan be obtained in such a way that the contact portion 22 c of thesecond pin member 22 provided in the adapter side connection portion 20is brought into contact with the contact surface arrangement portion 41a of the terminal member 41 in the urged state, that is, the contactportion 22 c is pressed against the contact surface arrangement portion41 a by a predetermined pressing force.

Note that the present embodiment assumes that the side view type adapteris used as the distal end adapter 10 of the adapter type endoscope 50.However, the distal end adapter is not limited to the side view typeadapter provided with the side view optical system. The distal endadapter may be a direct view type adapter provided with the direct viewoptical system as the observation optical system as shown in FIGS. 20 to24, a direct view type adapter for stereoscopic observation (hereinafterreferred to as stereo direct view type) as shown in FIGS. 25 to 28, anda stereo direct view type adapter including a channel hole as shown inFIGS. 29 to 32.

As shown in FIGS. 20 to 24, a direct view type distal end adapter 10Aattachable to the distal end portion 3 a is configured by mainlyincluding the adapter main body 11A, the detachable ring 12, and thehood portion 13A. An illumination hole 61 and an optical portion hole 62are provided in the hood portion 13A. The illumination hole 61 has asubstantially cylindrical shape, and the plurality of LEDs 14 are facedfrom the distal end surface of the illumination hole 61. An observationwindow 71, and the like, which configures a direct view optical system70 is arranged in the optical portion hole 62.

As shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 21, and FIG. 23, in the direct view typedistal end adapter 10A, the LEDs 14 are arranged in an opposingpositional relationship so as to sandwich the observation window 71.Further, the pair of LED electrodes 28 are arranged on the side of oneof the LEDs 14, which is positioned on the lower side in the figure. TheLEDs 14 and the LED electrodes 28 are provided on the substrate 9 fixedto the LED holding plate 18A. The LED holding plate 18A is arrangedintegrally on the distal end surface of the adapter main body 11A. Apattern 9 b is formed beforehand on the substrate 9. The pair of LEDs 14and the pair of LED electrodes 28 are provided at predeterminedpositions of the pattern 9 b. The contact portion 14 a of the LED 14 andthe head portion 28 a of the LED electrode 28, which are provided on thesubstrate 9, are electrically connected to each other by the wiringmember 8. Further, the pattern 9 b and the contact portion 14 a of theLED 14 are electrically connected to each other by the wiring member 8.

Also in the direct view type distal end adapter 10A, as shown in FIG. 22and FIG. 24, the interval between the pair of LED electrodes 28 isdifferent from the interval of the pair of first pin members 21 of theadapter side connection portion 20. For this reason, the electricalconnection between the LED electrode 28 and the first pin member 21 iseffected, for example, by a substantially fan-shaped rigid substrate 63,for the purpose of pitch adjustment. The fan-shaped substrate 63includes, on the inner circular arc side, first contact pins 64corresponding to the first pin members 21, and includes, on the outercircular arc side, second contact pins 65 corresponding to the LEDelectrodes 28. That is, also in the fan-shaped substrate 63, the pair offirst pin members 21 are electrically connected similarly to theflexible substrate 19. The interval between the first contact pins 64 isconfigured to be smaller than the interval between the second contactpins 65 to which the pin portions 28 b are electrically connected.

Further, a resistor 7A for determining the type of the distal endadapter is mounted also on the fan-shaped substrate 63. The resistancevalue of the resistor 7A is different from the resistance value of theresistor 7. The adapter main body 11A includes a cutout 11Aa. The cutout11Aa is formed so that the worker can visually recognize the resistor 7Amounted on the fan-shaped substrate 63.

Note that the reference character 73 denotes adhesive. The referencecharacter 18Aa denotes a cutout included in the LED holding plate 18A.In addition, the reference character 74 is a fastening screw with whichthe hood portion 13A and the adapter main body 11A are integrallyfastened.

According to this configuration, the worker can visually recognize theresistor 7A through the cutouts 18Aa and 11Aa. Electric elements may bemounted on the fan-shaped substrate 63.

The fan-shaped substrate is thus provided to the direct view type distalend adapter, and on the fan-shaped substrate is mounted a resistor, aresistance value of which is different from that of the resistorincluded in the side view type distal end adapter, thereby facilitatingthe determination of the distal end adapter. In addition, similarly asin the case of the above-described side view type, the configuration ofthe direct view type adapter makes it possible to prevent accidentalcontact of the resistor mounted on the fan-shaped substrate with otherelectronic components and bad electrical contact of the resistor, andalso makes it possible for the worker to visually recognize theresistance value of the resistor at the time of assembly work forintegrally fixing the adapter main body to the hood portion.

Configuration and working of a stereo direct view type distal endadapter are described with reference to FIGS. 25 to 28.

When a stereo direct view type distal end adapter 10B of the presentembodiment is configured, the LED electrodes 28 and the pair of firstpin members 21 of the adapter side connection portion 20 are connectedby a flexible substrate 19B similarly as in the side view type distalend adapter.

Here, brief description is made on the configuration of the stereodirect view type distal end adapter 10B which is attachable to thedistal end portion 3 a.

The distal end adapter 10B is configured by mainly including an adaptermain body 11B, the detachable ring 12, and a hood portion 13B. The hoodportion 13 B is provided with the illumination hole 61 and the opticalportion hole 62 which are similar to those provided to the hood portion13A. A plurality of LEDs 14 face the illumination hole 61, and anobservation window 71B and the like, which configure a stereo directview optical system 70B by including a pupil optical system 75, arearranged in the optical portion hole 62.

Also in the distal end adapter 10B, the LEDs 14 are arranged in anopposing positional relationship so as to sandwich the observationwindow 71B. A pair of LED electrodes 28 are arranged on the side of oneof the LEDs 14, which is positioned on the lower side in FIG. 25.

The LED electrodes 28 and the pair of first pin members 21 of theadapter side connection portion 20 are electrically connected by theflexible substrate 19B. On the flexible substrate 19B is mounted aresistor 7B for determining the type of the distal end adapter. Theresistance value of the resistor 7B is different from the resistancevalues of the resistors 7 and 7A.

The reference character 76 denotes a pupil optical lens frame which alsoserves as the LED holding plate. Other configurations are the same asthose of the distal end adapter 10A. The same components are attachedwith the same reference characters and the descriptions thereof will beomitted.

The resistor 7B, the resistance value of which is different from thoseof the resistors 7 and 7A, is thus mounted on the flexible substrate19B, thereby enabling the same working and effect as those of theabove-described distal end adapters 10 and 10A to be obtained.

Note that the distal end adapter is assumed to be the stereo direct viewtype in the present embodiment. However, the distal end adapter is notlimited to the stereo direct view type, and the present configurationmay be adopted in the stereo side view type distal end adapter.

In addition, as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 25, the resistor 7Bmay be mounted on the flexible substrate 19B so as to be positioned noton the side of the hood portion 13B but on the side of the stereo directview optical system 70B. This configuration enables the worker tovisually recognize the resistance value of the resistor 7B from a gapbetween the flexible substrate 19B and the pupil optical lens frame 76.

Furthermore, the present embodiment assumes that the resistor 7B ismounted on the flexible substrate 19B which electrically connects theLED electrodes 28 and the first pin members 21. However, as shown by thetwo-dot chain lines or the dashed lines in FIG. 28, the resistor 7B maybe mounted on a flexible substrate 19C, for example, which is a memberdifferent from the flexible substrate 19B, and the flexible substrate19C on which the resistor 7B is mounted may be connected to the LEDelectrodes 28 b or to the first pin members 21 as shown in the drawing.Alternatively, the flexible substrate 19C may be connected to thesubstrate 9, though the illustration thereof is omitted.

Configuration and working of the stereo direct view type distal endadapter including a channel hole are described with reference to FIGS.29 to 32.

If the distal end adapter 10C is the stereo direct view type including achannel hole, a tubular member 81 configuring a channel hole 80 isarranged in an adapter main body 11C, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.Therefore, unlike in the case of the adapter 10 and the like, it isdifficult to provide the D-shape space 10S1 or the distal end side space10S2 in the distal end adapter 10C of the present embodiment.

Here, brief description is made on the configuration of the stereodirect view type distal end adapter 10C which is attachable to thedistal end portion 3 a.

The distal end adapter 10C is configured by mainly including the adaptermain body 11C, the detachable ring 12, and a hood portion 13C. As shownin FIGS. 30 and 31, the hood portion 13C is provided with a tubularmember arranging hole 82 in addition to the illumination hole 61 and theoptical portion hole 62 which are substantially the same as thoseprovided to the above-described hood portion 13B.

In the tubular member arranging hole 82 is provided the tubular member81 for configuring the channel hole 80. In addition, a plurality of LEDs14 face the illumination hole 61 and an observation window 71B and thelike, which configure the stereo direct view optical system 70B byincluding the pupil optical system 75, are arranged in the opticalportion hole 62. The reference character 83 denotes a hood portioncovering member which is provided on an outer periphery of the hoodportion 13B.

In the distal end adapter 10C, the plurality of LEDs 14 are arranged inan opposing positional relationship so as to sandwich the observationwindow 71B and an opening 80 o of the channel hole 80 as shown in FIG.29, and an adapter side connection portion 84 is arranged as shown inFIG. 32. In the present embodiment, an end portion of an electricalcable 85 electrically connected to the adapter side connection portion84 and extended therefrom is electrically connected to the LEDelectrodes 28C respectively provided so as to sandwich the observationwindow 71B and the channel hole 77, as shown in FIG. 31.

As shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 30, a cutout hole 76 c is formed onthe distal end side of the pupil optical lens frame 76. The cutout hole76 c is formed in a shape having openings on the distal end side and onthe outer peripheral side, and is a space for arranging the resistor 7Cfor determining the type of the distal end adapter. The resistor 7C ismounted on a surface of the substrate 9, which is opposite side of thesurface on which the LEDs 14 are mounted. The resistance value of theresistor 7C is different from the resistance values of theabove-described resistors 7, 7A, and 7B.

Other configurations are the same as those of the distal end adapter10B. The same components are attached with the same referencecharacters, and the descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The resistor 7C, the resistance value of which is different from thoseof the resistors 7, 7A, and 7B, is thus mounted on the substrate 9,thereby facilitating the determination of the distal end adapter same asin the cases of the distal end adapters 10, 10A, and 10B.

In addition, the space for arranging the resistor 7C is formed as thecutout hole formed in the shape having openings on the distal end sideand the outer peripheral side, thereby enabling the worker to visuallyrecognize the resistor positioned in the space from the opening on theouter peripheral side.

Note that the present embodiment assumes that the distal end adapter isthe stereo direct view type including a channel hole. However, thedistal end adapter is not limited to the stereo direct view typeincluding a channel hole, and the present configuration may be adoptedin the stereo side view type distal end adapter including a channelhole. Alternatively, the present configuration may be adopted in distalend adapters in which it is difficult to provide the D-shape space 10S1and the distal end side space 10S2.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 33, if there is a space on the substrate 9on which the plurality of LEDs 14 are arranged around the observationwindow 71, an adapter 10D may be configured by mounting a resistor 7D,the resistance value of which is different from those of the resistors 7to 7C in the space on the mounting surface side of the substrate 9. Thisenables the same working and the effect as those of the distal endadapter 10C to be obtained. The reference character 13D denotes a hoodportion.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention referring tothe accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the presentinvention is not limited to those precise embodiments and variouschanges and modifications thereof could be made by one skilled in theart without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. An endoscope adapter including a light emitting diode,to be connected to an insertion portion of an endoscope in which theinsertion portion includes an image-forming optical system and anendoscope side electrical connection portion inside a distal end portionthereof, the endoscope side electrical connection portion beingconnected to a power cable extending from a power supply portion, theendoscope adapter comprising: an adapter side detachable portion to beattached to an adapter attaching portion provided at the distal endportion of the insertion portion of the endoscope; an adapter sideelectrical connection portion having a plurality of contact pins whichare brought into contact with the endoscope side electrical connectionportion when the endoscope adapter is connected to the insertion portionof the endoscope; a side view optical system for observation in a sideview direction by bending an optical axis of the image-forming opticalsystem inside the distal end portion of the insertion portion so as toextend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of theinsertion portion of the endoscope; an adapter main body that has aholding region for holding the light emitting diode provided to bedistal with respect to an observation window of the side view opticalsystem, an arrangement space in which the adapter side electricalconnection portion is arranged, and a space provided at an opposite sideto the holding region for holding the light emitting diode andconfigured to arrange a wide and flat substrate which electricallyconnects between the adapter side electrical connection portion and thelight emitting diode; a determination resistor arranged in the adaptermain body on a distal end side of the adapter main body and configuredto determine a type of the endoscope adapter; and a main body exteriormember to which the adapter main body is internally fitted and which hasan opening formed at a region corresponding to the holding region of theadapter main body.
 3. The endoscope adapter according to claim 2,wherein the adapter side electrical connection portion comprises:springs which are conductive members and configured to urge the contactpins towards the distal end portion of the insertion portion of theendoscope; case bodies which are conductive members each having a pipeshape and in which the springs and the contact pins are arranged to beslidable; and an insulating portion configured to integrally cover thecase bodies in a state where the case bodies are arranged in parallelwith and insulated from each other.
 4. The endoscope adapter accordingto claim 3, wherein the side view optical system comprises a prism andthe adapter main body has a support portion for arranging the prism. 5.The endoscope adapter according to claim 4, wherein an electricconnection path from the wide and flat substrate to the light emittingdiode is laid out so as to pass on the distal end side of the adaptermain body from the space provided in the adapter main body towards thelight emitting diode.
 6. The endoscope adapter according to claim 5,wherein the determination resistor is provided on the wide and flatsubstrate.